MANTRA

THE MOST CONDUCIVE WAY TO PRACTICE MANTRA

• Place should be clean and free of clutter. A peaceful place.

• Posture one should sit with spine erect. Sit on floor with crossed legs, or if this is not possible due to stiffness, sit on a chair with feet flat on the floor. Most important is that the spine is erect.

• Mudra Position of the hands can also be used to aid the focus and prana flow in the body, so that the ability to connect to the mantra is enhanced.

• Mind should be focused and relaxed. This can be achieved through some pranayama before beginning the mantra practice.

BASIC PRACTICE OF AUM MANTRA

Take into account the four key points for a conducive Mantra practice.

Sit with your spine erect in a comfortable position. Place your left hand on your lap, palm facing up, then begin alternate nostril breathing. Begin with the exhale through the left nostril, then breath in the left and out the right. Inhale right and exhale left. Continue this process for 5 minutes. Each inhale should be full, and each exhale make your lungs completely empty. Don't try too hard, be gentle. After 5 minutes take your hands rest them on your knees facing upward. Take the Jnana mudra.

CHANT THE SOUND

AAAAAAAA    7 TIMES  

UUUUUUU    7 TIMES

MMMMMM    7 TIMES

Now chant all three sounds (AUM) with equal length 21 times

Sit for a couple of minutes after practicing the mantra with eyes closed and witnessing the breath in your body. You can inwardly gaze up to your forehead during this time.

 AUM

Aum is probably the most well known Mantra. This is an easy mantra that can be practiced by anyone. The chanting of this mantra, will aid the practitioner in healing of an unstable mind, bringing focus and helping to clear away psychological issues. It will also aid one physically, by improving the immune system. Attention disorders can also be overcome through the chanting of AUM.

The AUM Mantra, consists of three sounds, and are known in vedic philosophy to be the primordial sounds of creation. Everything in existence is said to come from this sound and have this sound reverberating within. The vedic system explains that this whole existence is an amalgamation of sound. A U and M are the primary sounds of which everything else is a mix of. In the same way we can understand that we have the three primary colours of light of which all else is a mix of. So therefore everything has come from this sound. There are varying opinions on the form or name of God, but most agree that God is that which is the source of creation. Aum is said to be divinity itself, and can be realised in this human life. Chanting of Aum will help us attach to our higher self and detach from our lower natures, it is said. 

Through the chanting of this sound all 72 Nadis in the body are activated, and awakened.

Every saint has realised this sound within themselves. It is said that if you truly become silent, not just outwardly but inwardly, you will also hear the sound of AUM reverberating within you.  

You should feel the vibration move through your body from AAA in the Manipura (solar) Chakra, representing creation or creator (BRAHMA). UUU in Anahata (heart) to Vishuda (throat) chakra representing sustenance or sustainer (VISHNU), and MMM in the Ajna (third eye) representing destruction or destroyer (SHIVA).

What is Mantra

Mantra is a Sanskrit word. Man - mind, Tra - control. Mantra is a process of gaining control of the mind. The most powerful of Yogic processes. It is said within the vedic philosophy that the physical (asana) is a very gross way of transformation. More subtle is through breath (pranayama), but the most subtle and powerful way is through sound (Mantra)

In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna says : “no doubt the mind is very difficult to control. However it can be controlled by constant practice and detachment” Chanting the Lords name is the prescription for this process. By chanting we can detach from our lower consciousness and attach to our higher consciousness. Our lower consciousness is determined much by our senses, which are like 5 wild horses, as represented in the Bhagavad Gita, they pull us all over this material world in search of sense gratification. However through the practice of mantra our higher consciousness can overrule and the wild horses (Senses) brought under control.

 Mantra is a sound which carries a certain vibration, the meaning has little relevance. Its  reverberation will produce a certain type of consciousness. As with fire, it will burn you whether you know what it is or not, the mantra too will also affect the individual, no matter whether they understand it or not.

Methods of chanting Mantra

Jappa Chanting of a mantra on a mala (string of beads) out loud, normally 108 times. Especially during Satvic hours, ie before sunrise and at sunset. 

Manasika Jappa Silently chanting to oneself within oneself continuously. This is very advanced. 

Kirtan The singing of Gods name with feeling and devotion.

If Jappa is hard devotion, Kirtan is soft devotion. Devotion is said to be the quickest path to knowledge and Yoga, as Lord Krishnas message in the Bhagavad Gita goes;

“ Try to understand me with all your intellect and you will fail, but love me, and I am yours.”

CHANTING

Chanting is not the same thing as Mantra. We chant a mantra, but a mantra is a specific sound with a transformative effect on its own. We can also chant other things which are not mantras, ie 

Sutra: is a phrase that is an encoded message

Shloka : is any type of rhythmic verse. 

Mantra : may not have meaning. Comes from that which delivers results on repetition of chant. Mantras are meant to be worked upon and experienced to reach higher possibilities of life. 

Strota : shlokas that are put together become a strota.

RAGGA

A musical science of sound which can produce all different states of consciousness. For example if we play a particular raag it can lower your blood pressure. The music will not just create different emotions such as Love, aggression, joy, but will create a certain type of chemistry in you. This is said to be to mathematical precision with this ancient science of music! So what type of sounds you expose yourself to will have a great significance on you. 

In conclusion, Mantra is a powerful form of meditation and yoga. Try practising the Aum mantra as described at the top of this blog twice per day in the Satvic hours, and notice the effects on your body and mind. You don't have to believe anything, just conduct the experiment and see for yourself.